davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
VOLUME XXI. NO. SO.
What Others Say.
illustrated Christian Feeklu.l

! illustrated Christian Feeklyl
We hear it said frequently that what
is needed to carry onward the good
work of the world is more heart. The
remark is true. This quality is need
ed in the pulpit-not less brains, but
more piety. It is needed in any work
of charity-not less system, but more
sympathy. 1t is needed in the home
not less stress and force of wise gov
ernment, but more affection. We talk
about mental culture, about educating
the mind. Surely there is equal need
of culturing the heart, educating the
affections. This work can be done.
Each one must study for himself the
measure in which it needs to be done
in his case. There are those who are
royalty gifted in mental endowments,
but who are lacking on the affectional
side. Such need to cultivate their
hearts. Perhaps no one has ever too
much heart; if any one has, its faults
are more easily forgiven than those
that lie in an opposite direction. If
one is conscious that he has too little
heart, let him set himself to practical
work for the good of his fellows, and
he will find his affections growing
apace. Practical sympathy is great
promoter of affectionate interest.
When we do anything for the benefit
of another we cannot help being affec-
tionate towards him. Let us cultivate
for use in all the spheres of life, not
mere weak sentiment, but genuine
heart love.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
HOUSE AND FARM.
The One-HOrse Farmer.

The one-horse farmer has lifelong
ambition to gain reputation for wear
ing a dirty shirt.
He will alarm the neighbors by get.
ting up two hours before day, then sit
around and not go to work until after
sunrise.
He will ride around a week looking
for a 50 hog.
He will complain of hard times,
then tear his pants climbing a fence
where gate ought to be.
He will pay three dollars for new
bride, then let the calf chew it to
pieces before Sunday.
He will get all his neighbors to help
in getting the cow out of the bog, then
let her die for want of attention.
Stock will get in and destroy his
crop at place in the fence that he has
been putting off fixing for six months.
He will strain his back lifting some
thing to show how strong he is.
He will talk all day Sunday about
what he knows about farming, then
ride around the neighborhood Mon
day hunting seed potatoes.
he Will go III DIS SnlrC sleeves OH
cold day, to show how much he can
stand, then return home at night and
occupy two-thirds of the Fireplace un-
til bed time.
He will ridicule the mechanism of q
cotton planter and 60 Out and mash
his thumb trying to nail board on
the fence.
He will 60 to town on Saturday and
come back with fifty cents worth of
coffee, paper of pins. dollars worth
of chewing tobacco and full of whisky.
He is economical economy is his
forte; he will save ten cents worth of
axle grease and ruin the spindle of a
$40 wagon.
He won't subscribe for newspaper,
but will borrow his friends and forget
to return it.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
A Cure for Doubt.

What Christian has not, at some
time, experienced the dreariness o
doubt, the chilling sensation of uncer
tainty? '"There are hours, and they
come to us all, when the hand of mys
terry seems to be heavy on the soul
when some life-shock scatters eXis
tence, leaves it q blank and dreary
waste henceforth forever, and there
appears nothing of hope In all the eX
panse which stretches out, except thai
merciful gate of death which opens al
the end-hours when the sense of mis-
placed or ill-requited affection, the
feeling of personal worthlessness, the
uncertainty and meanness of all hu.
man aims, and the doubt of all human
goodness, unfix the soul from all its
old moorings, and leave it drifting
drifting over the vast infinitude, with
an awful sense of solitariness."
One describes such an experience as
being in the strangling depths, with
worse than sea weed round his head
as a horrible night, night starless
and black; night of storm and tenn.
pest; a winter night, cold, bleak
cheerless night in the sea with its
billows rolling over and its water.
spouts flooding the soul, with naught
around but the rush and gurgle of the
merciless wave.
And is there no cure for such state
of mind? no voice to calm the roar oI
the pillows? no ray Of light to pene.
trate and scatter the mists and fogs
no hand to touch and annihilate the
horrible nightmare of the soul?
In the hour of doubt and gloom
when the night Is dark and nOua yard
of path is known, what remains
Obedience. Let him 60 forward, lei
him be true to duty as far as known,
and he will not long be left in doubt.
AS the command is obeyed, as the
will of God is done, as an advance is
made along the path of duty, difficul.
ties vanish, mists are scattered and
avenues to light and hope are discov-
cred.
If you are entangled in the meshes
of subtle skepticism, are lost amid a
night of unbelief, and are honestly
asking, "What must I do? the an
swer is, "Go forward" Do as much
of the will of God as is plain to you,
anu you Sudll huOW VI tuC uoSIllhS
whether it be of God"
Obey the divine command with a
ready mind and cheerful heart. The
difficulties that now hinder the dis.
charge of duty, and the clouds that
darken the judgment will not disap-
pear before the halting and doubling.
Every step in the path Of obedience is
an advance toward the light. IF any
man will do, he shall know"
Why, then, are any persons in
doubt? The answer is simple. Those
who are in doubt are either indifferent
to the knowledge professed to be de-
sired, or are unwilling to obtain this
knowledge at the cost of doing Gods
will. This is Christ's way of putting
unbelief to rest, his infallible cure for
doubt. He said, "Do rightly, and you
will judge justly; obey, and you will
know"
The moment man puts forth an act
of loving will, wills to do Gods will.
that moment he scatters the forces OF
skepticism and disperses the clouds of
doubt, as q morning sunbeam, "touch-
ing the mist upon the mountain side,
makes it vanish into thin air."
Ia. r. Presbyterian.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
Too Cheap.

The dog was altogether worthless.
It seemed cruel to kill him, and the
puzzled owner resolved to give him
away. All day long he went about
the streets, but no man or woman or
boy wanted so cheap dog. Next day
the tactics were changed. The animal
was offered for twenty dollars. Every
body was Immediately interested. A
crowd was attracted, and bidders flock
ed to the sale, so that long before night
the worthless cur was disposed of at
full price. Such is the story. Perhaps
it is not true. But true or not, it
teaches the lesson that even a sorry
dog will bring more when held at a
high price, and too much cheapness is
calculated to throw suspicion on even
the best of dogs. Therefore, the whole
moral is that he would be successful in
the market of life must not set too low
price on himself or his goods. And
even ministers may here CLEAN u sug-
gestive moral. No man is to think
more highly of himself than he ought
to think, but every teacher and every
Christian is to think highly of the
gospel message he is to deliver, and
the work for Jesus that he is commits
stoned to do. Like Paul, every follow
er of Christ should magnify his office.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
Some Old Questions.

Strange doctrine was preached in SER
mon we once heard. Was it "ortho-
dox9" The subject was prayer, and
from at least one illustration the speaker
taught that if we pray Alright we will re-
ceive what we ask-not merely an an
swer to prayer, but the very answer we
desire. Now as we have no strait.jacket
to fit ourselves to, and are not bound to
make our belief support any fixed colo
gy" or "ism," we feel free to say what
common sense, and not wholly un-
enlightened conscience, may dictate. But
to return to the illustration: "a widowed
mother saw her only child march away
to meet the fortunes of war. "My son"
said she at parting, "I shall pray for you
every day, at morning, at noon, and at
night. I believe that God will grant my
prayer, and return you to me in safety
The war closed, but the young man did
not return to his home. The mother still
felt that her prayers were not in vain,
and that her son would come back strong
and we'll, able to relieve her of heavy re-
sponsibilities. Six months after peace
was proclaimed the young man did re-
turn, and-his mothers prayers were an
swered. Many questions arise. Of all
the men killed in the late civil war were
there none who were prayed for ''aright ~
were there not some righteous women
who did not ask "amiss" when they
prayed that the husband, the father, the
son might be preserved from the bullets
of the enemy? Did not many fight from
the firing on Sumter to the sad close at
Appomattox who neither prayed for
themselves nor had prayers offered for
them?
What is an answer to prayer? Is the
good (?) we crave at the hands of God a
good that is best? We ask life? Our
loved live on, but not in our company.
The separation saddens for all time the
life left behind-but-what is best
Who knows? God alone. Again, what
constitutes an answer to prayer? We
can truly say all prayers are answered,
since granting of the request or its de-
NAL may be considered an answer. Un-
fortunately the word answered is COM
monty used as meaning favorable an
swer, granting of the thing desired
hence much confusion on subject the
wisest and best touch with some hesl-
fancy.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
COM MON S.
How Easy it is.

How easy II Is to spoil n day!
The thoughtleSs words OF q cherished friend
The selfish acts Of n child at play,
The strength of a will that will lot bend,
The slight Of n comrade the scorn Of n foe,
The smile that is full of bitter things
They oil can tarnish It's golden glow,
And take the grace from its airy wings.
How easy 1t is to spoil day
BY the force Of a thought we did not check.
Little by little we mold the clay.
And little flaws may the vessel wreck.
The careless waste OF a white-winged hour,
That held the blessing we long had sought,
The sudden loss of wealth or power.
And 10! the day is with Ill inwrought.
How easy 1t is to spoil a life -
And many are spoiled ere we'll begun
In home light darkenGd by sin and strife,
Or downward course Of cherished one;
By toll that robs the form of It's grace,
And undermines till health gives way:
By the peevish temper, the frowning face,
The hopes that 60, and the cares that stay.
A day is too long to spend In vain.
Some good should come as the hours 60 by
Some tangled maze may be made more plain
Some lowered glance may be raised on high
And life is too short to spoil like this,
If only n prelude, 1t may be sweet:
Let us bind together It's thread Of bliss,
And nourish the flowers around our feet.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
A Dog Story.

An English writer tells the follow
ing: A family let their house furnish
ed, leaving in it a large dog. The ten
ant was an old lady, who liked to sit
in particularly comfortable chair in
the drawing-room but as the dog was
also fond of this chair, she frequently
found him in possession. Being rath-
er afraid of the dog, she did not care
to drive him out, and therefore used to
20 to the window and call "Cats!"
The dog would then rush to the win
dow and bark, and the lady would
take possession of the chair. One day
the dog entered the room and found
the old lady in possession of the chair.
He ran to the window and barked ex-
citedly. The lady got up to see what
was the matter, and the dog instantly
seated himself in the chair.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
A Mothers Promise.

A little girl whose mother had al
ways told her the truth and taught
her to trust in her promises, went with
her one day to a large town. The
child had been used to live in the
quiet country, and the noise and hustle
Of the city were not pleasant to her.
A great crowd was gathered to see
some show in the street, and Lucy
pressed her mothers hand, for she felt
afraid. Don't be afraid, my child"
said her mother. II won't take you
into any danger. Keep hold of my
hand, and nothing shall hurt YOU"
Lucy believed her mother and was
happy. -.
After while 1t commenced to rain.
The mother looked at her delicate lit
tie girl and said, "Lucy, dear, am
afraid to take you any further, on &C
count of the rain. I have some busi-
ness in another part of the town. I
must leave you in this store. Don't
SO away from it, and I will come for
you as soon as I get through my er-
rands.". The child looked into her
mothers face and said, "You won't
forget me, know" -.
Then her mother kissed her, and left
her under the care of the store-keeper.
At first she was amused by seeing
the gay ribbons measured, and in
watching the ladies who came in to do
their shopping; but after while she
grew tired and wished for her mother
to come. Then little girl older than
herself came in, and they began to
talk together. Lucy told her she was
waiting for her mother, who had pro-
missed to come for her when she got
through her errands. g.
Aren't you afraid your mother may
forget you?" asked the little girl.
mo, I'm not afraid; I'm sure she
won't do that" said Lucy. :.
"How can you be sure? She may,
you know" ;.
"She promised" was the child's re-
ply, "and I never knew my mother to
break her promise" -. g.,
Another hour passed away. How
long 1t seemed to Lucy. The custom
ers had all gone home. The people In
the store were putting away their
goods. 1t was growing dark and the
gas-lamps were lighted, but still her
mother did not come. A lady came
into the store Lucy knew. She lived
near her fathers, and offered to take
her home in her carriage. =.
"No, thank you, ma'am." said
Lucy, "mother said she would come
for me, and I know she will keep her
promise"
At length her mother came. How
glad Lucy was to see her. And when
they were sitting by the fire-side in
the evening, her mother told her this
was just the kind of trust that God
wanted his children to exercise. He
gives us promises in his Word and ex-
poets US to believe them, just as we be-
lieve the promises of our parents and
dear friends. "What time we are
afraid" we must trust in His promise,
and then we shall fine comfort. The
great promise of God in the Gospel Is,
"Whosoever believeth shall not per.
ish." The way to be saved Is just to
trust in this promise with all our
hearts. Then we need never be afraid
about getting to heaven.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
New System of Preserving.

1t appears probable, says Nck's
Magazine, that the days of patent
fruit jars are ended, since the testimo-
ny Is so satisfactory in favor of tying
cotton batting over the mouth of the
jar containing the fruit. The fruit is
cooked, or rather brought to the boil
ing point, and then poured hot into
the jars, which are at once covered
with white paper, and over that a lay
er of cotton batting, just as it comes
OFF the roll, and tied down securely
with cotton twine. The philosophy of
it is that the cotton prevents bacteria,
which is the cause of all ferments.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08

Newberry has had two weeks ofspecial
religious exercises, which closed Sunday
night, May 20. The first week was a
meeting of the "Holiness Association"
tho next was protracted or revival meet
ing. The result of the two meetings, one
Immediately following the other, was
the addition of SO to the membership in
the churches of the town, the greatest
number united with the Methodists. The
meetings were held within large tent
made for such occasions. There were
many conversions, the exact humber we
haya not learned
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
SCHOOLS.
That Boy.

Through the house with laugh and shout,
Knees threadbare and elbows out,
Mamma hears, with an xious doubt,
That boy.
Vain are all the lessons taught,
In one short hour they are forgot,
Gentle manners learneth not
That boy.
Thus she muses. while she tries
To soothe the awakening baby's cries,
While to other mischief hies %.
That boy.
With aching head his mother mild
Looks to the future OF her child
Still needless, yells In accent wild
That boy.
She hears the dread, unearthly tone.
And stiles something like groan-
To some bad end will surely come
That boy.
Patient mother, walt awhile:
Summon back thy loving smile;
Soon will graver care beguile O..
That boy. >."'
Soon the boy with "cheek Of TAM
VIII be the brawny, bearded man;
II thou wouldst trust and honor then
That boy.
Trust him, now, and let thy care
Shield his soul from every snare
That waits to capture, unaware,
That boy.
And when, though worn and oft distressed
Thou knowest that God thy work has bless
Then trust with him for all the rest
That boy.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
Turning again to Folly.

The recent competitive military drill al
Washington by the "soldiers" from vari-
Gus sections of the United States, was
somewhat deranged by the presence OF
the "brother rsoldier-in-black" and by re-
peated storms of wind and rain. The
grand ulcerous pageant would have been
pronounced demoralized but for the
weather-cock discourse of DR.. Talmadge
and the glamour reports which of course
covered all retreats and defects. 1t had
to be made grand and glorious Of course
it was military.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08

Prayer is the bow, the promise is tn
arrow and faith the hand which draw!
the bow and sends the arrow with tht
hearts message to heaven. The bow
without the arrow is of no use, and tht
arrow without the bow as little worth
and both without the strength of the
hand to no purpose.
Every new privilege leaves a man
either better or worse than it found
him. It is 80 even with religious priv
ileges; for familiarity with sacred
things either makes man more rever
ent or less reverent.
Restlessness and fretfulness hinder
godliness. The very restless will nev.
er be very godly; the very godly will
never be very restless. "Be still, and
know that am God"
The person to whom you have spok-
en- evil is thereby removed farther be-
yond your reach for good. The help
ing hand and the blistering tongue
have no fellowship.
The children of this world have
their all in hand and nothing In hope,
while the children of God have their
all in hope and next to nothing in
hand.
"We speak of self-made men. None
are great who are not so made. No
one receives enough from ancestry or
environments to make him truly
great"
One offer of salvation
To all the world make known,
TITS Jesus Christ the first and last,
He saves and He alone.
The word of God will stand a thous-
and readings, and he who has gone
over it most frequently is the surest of
finding new wonders there.
1t is poor, an unworthy, life-plan
that is all on the earth, that lifts no eye
or thought upward, that does not take
heaven into its purpose.
He who prevents conflagration DE.
serves more credit than those who put
out the fire after it has done vast
amount of damage.
The fool knows nothing of shame.
A man can hold up his head unaer
any circumstances when there is moth
ing in it:
True goodness is like the glow
worm-it shines most when no eyes
except those of heaven are upon it.
Plants do better when not watered
often, but copiously.
Soap-suds is splendid fertilizer for
Towering plants.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08

When you arc examining yourself
never call yourself merely Sinner"
that is very cheap abuse, and utterly
useless. You may even get to like it
and be proud of it. But call yourself
a liar, a coward, q glutton, or an evil
eyed jealous wretch. if you indeed find
yourself to be in any wise any of these.
One hundred and ninety-five thous-
and lives were lost to our nation in the
four years of civil war, while 400, O,0GO
are lost every four years by intemper-
ance. TEMPERANCE Annals, 1887.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08

The editor of the Neighbor reached
home too late and too tired from trip to
Abbeville, Anderson and Belton to write
anything this week about the country and
the people and the things he saw. Next
week he may say something, If the tread
mill and Providence permit.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
illustrated Christian Weekly.I

NOT BY MACHINERY OR PLANS
The great temptation of the Christian
worker is to rely too much upon plans
and machinery. Although he may
acknowledge in all sincerity his de-
pendence on God for blessing, yet in
the moment of action he does often
forget not only that he can do nothing
of himself, but also that there is no in
herent virtue in the instruments which
he employs. The sword of the Lord
and of Gideon was not a Damascus
blade, the workmanship Of cunning
artihcers, chosen out of all the weap-
ons known to the conquerors of Ca
naan. 1t was continuous prayerful
trust in the Almighty Jehovah, a be-
lief that he would by his own might
work the victory. The trumpets and
the lamps within the pitchers were
craftily chosen to excite panic in the
hosts of Midian, but while filled with
the Spirit of the Lord Gideon could
not fail to use everything which prom
ised help, he would not use anything
without remembering that success lay
in the divine presence and power.
We talk about different church Or
ders, different plans and methods, of a
hundred ingenious ways of reaching
sinners and stimulating saints, and at
tribute our success and failure to the
employment or neglect of this or that
method. This is all wrong. 1t is
very wrong.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
When you talk keep your hands

When you talk keep your hands
still.
Cultivate the habit of listening to
others; it will make you an invalua-
bic member Of society, to say nothing
of the advantage it will be to you when
you marry. Every man likes to talk
about himself A good listener makes
delightful wife. :.
Do not be guilty of the discourtesy
of shaking hands with one person
while you are looking at or talking to
another.
in at ones neck. In eating with a
spoon be careful not to put it too far
into the mouth.
When eating bread and butter at ia
BILE, butter small piece at time, not
the entire slice.
whats a life insurance ?" asked
one boy of another. "Well, l s'pose,"
said his companion, otis a concern
that keeps a man poor all the time
he's alive, 80 that he may die rich."
The fondling of children is with
good reason commonly called the
Spelling of them; those that are train
ed up to do nothing are likely to be
good for nothing.
Young people would better consult
their own interest, if they would less
indulge their own will.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
(Burulo Christian Adpocate.)

How REFORMS BEGIN.-1n the
work of reform men are continually
attempting the apparently impractica:
BILE. If it were not so, nothing would
ever be gained. To wait until men
say, "Now is the time, strike" would
be to wait in vain. Great reforms do
not begin in that way. The truth has
its birth in the heart and brain of
few who are willing to undergo the
gibes and sneers and contumely of the
many for the sake of principle and f.
nal victory.